Odo of Cheriton (c. 1180/90–1246/47) was an English preacher and fabulist. Trained in Paris (Master by 1211), he later taught in southern France and in Spain (Palencia, then Salamanca), before returning to England in 1233 to manage family estates. Though he wrote popular sermon collections and pastoral handbooks, his lasting fame rests on a compact, punchy book of moralized tales for preachers: the Parabolae (“I will open my mouth in parables”).

Designed as ready-to-use sermon exempla, the Parabolae gathers about 117 fables and variants. Roughly twenty-six are attributed to Aesop; others draw on Seneca, Ovid, Juvenal, Scripture, English folktales, and near-contemporaries such as Petrus Alphonsi, Jacques de Vitry, and Stephen of Bourbon. The collection survives in many manuscripts, inspired a 13th-century French redaction, a 14th-century Welsh version (Chwedlau Odo), an early Spanish translation, and was printed by Léopold Hervieux in 1896.

What gives Odo’s book its bite is the moralization after each story. He targets the vices of both clergy and laity, sometimes with satirical edge; his barbs at Cistercians are famous, though there is no evidence he belonged to any order himself. Not every entry is a plotted tale: some are bestiary-like notes tilted toward pastoral teaching.

For readers today, Odo is brisk, memorable, and morally pointed. His animals speak plainly, his morals land quickly, and the preacher’s aim – to move hearers from story to practice – still works on the page. Perfect material for short Latin readings with a lively discussion to follow.

Today we read two fables featuring a cat and a mouse.  In Odo’s world, the Cat is ever courteous, always hungry, and dangerous only if you come too close (and you’re a mouse). The Mouse is brave with other people’s courage, suddenly hard of hearing when vows come due. If you’re a cat hoping the mouse will come to be eaten when called, you’re in for a surprise. And if you ever catch the mouse swearing eternal loyalty, you’d better check the fine print.

Both fables have been categorized as easy, so – enjoy!

TEXT

LIV* – De muribus et catto.

Mures habuerunt semel consilium qualiter se a Cato possent premunire. Et ait quidam Mus sapiens: Ligetur campanella in collo Cati, et tunc poterimus ipsum quocumque perrexerit audire et insidias eius precauere. Placuit omnibus hoc consilium. Et ait Mus unus: Quis ligabit campanellam in collo Cati? Respondit Mus alius: Certe non ego. Respondit alius: Nec ego pro toto mundo ei uellem tantum appropinquare.

Sic plerumque contingit quod clerici, monachi insurgunt contra episcopum, priorem vel abbatem, dicentes: Vtinam esset talis amotus, et alium episcopum uel abbatem haberemus! Et placeret omnibus. Tandem dicunt: Quis opponit se contra episcopum? Quis accusabit eum? Alii sibi timentes dicunt: Non ego, nec ego. Et sic minores permittunt maiores uiuere et preesse.

ANALYSIS

De muribus et catto

de – preposition with ablative, “on” (introducing the topic)

muribus – ablative plural of mus, “mouse”

et – conjunction, “and”

catto – ablative singular of cattus, “cat”

Mures habuerunt semel consilium qualiter se a Cato possent praemunire.

mures – nominative plural of mus, as above   

habuerunt – perfect indicative active of habeo, “to have”, here: “to hold (a meeting)”

semel – adverb, „once”

consilium – accusative singular of consilium, here: “council, assembly”

Note: Although “council” would be better rendered with concilium, while consilium means “counsel”, but in medieval Latin they were often interchangeable

qualiter – adverb introducing an indirect question, “how”

se – reflexive pronoun, “themselves”

a Cato – ablative of catus, “from the cat” (classical Latin: cattus) 

possent – present subjunctive active, “could”, subjunctive because hypothetical and indirect question

praemunire – present infinitive of praemunio, “fortify, safeguard, protect against”

Et ait quidam Mus sapiens:

et – coordinating conjunction, “and”

ait – present indicative active of aio, mostly used in 3rd person, “says” (historical present “said”)

quidam – indefinite pronoun, “a certain”

Mus – nominative singular 

sapiens – nominative singular adjective, “wise,” agreeing with Mus

Ligetur campanella in collo Cati,

ligetur – present subjunctive passive, jussive: “let … be tied”

campanella – nominative singular, “little bell” (diminutive), subject of ligetur

in collo – ablative of collum (“on/around the neck”)

Cati – genitive singular, 

et tunc poterimus ipsum quocumque perrexerit audire et insidias eius praecavere.

et – “and”

tunc – “then”

poterimus – future indicative active of possum, “we shall be able”

ipsum — accusative singular of the demonstrative pronoun ipse, “him (the cat)”

quocumque – relative/indefinite adverb, “wherever”

perrexerit – future perfect indicative active of pergo, “(he) will have gone” → here in the general sense “goes”

audire – present infinitive, “to hear” (complement of poterimus)

insidias – accusative plural of insidia, “ambushes, traps”

eius – genitive singular of the personal pronoun, “his” (the cat’s)

praecavere – present infinitive, “to guard against, avoid” (coordinated with audire)

Placuit omnibus hoc consilium.

placuit – perfect indicative active of placeo, impersonal, “it pleased”

omnibus – dative plural, “to all”

hoc – nominative/accusative, “this” (demonstrative with consilium)

consilium – nominative singular, subject: “plan, counsel”

Et ait Mus unus: Quis ligabit campanellam in collo Cati?

unus – “one”

quis – interrogative pronoun, nominative singular, “who?”

ligabit – future indicative active of ligo, “will tie”

Respondit Mus alius: Certe non ego.

respondit – perfect of respondeo, “answered”

alius – “another”

certe – adverb, “certainly”

non ego – emphatic negation, “not I”

Respondit alius: Nec ego pro toto mundo ei vellem tantum appropinquare.

nec ego – “nor I”, “me neither”

pro toto mundo – idiom, “for all the world / under no circumstances”

ei – dative singular, “to him” (with appropinquare)

vellem – imperfect subjunctive active of volo, potential, “I would wish/choose”

tantum – adverb of quantity/measure, “so much/that much”

appropinquare – present infinitive, “to approach,” with dative (ei)

Sic plerumque contingit quod clerici, monachi insurgunt contra episcopum, priorem vel abbatem, dicentes: 

sic – “thus/so” (introduces the moral of the story)

plerumque – “for the most part, often”

contingit – present of contingo, impersonal “it happens”

quod – conjunction, “that”

clerici, monachi – nominative plural of clericus, monachus, “clergy, monks”

insurgunt – present indicative active of insurgo, “rise up”

contra – preposition with accusative, “against”

episcopum, priorem (…) abbatem – accusatives of episcopus, prior, abbas, “bishop, prior, abbot”

vel, conjunction, “or”

dicentes – present participles in plural as they agree with clerici, monachi, “saying,” introducing direct speech

Utinam esset talis amotus, et alium episcopum vel abbatem haberemus! Et placeret omnibus.

utinam – optative particle, “if only”

esset – imperfect subjunctive of sum, “were” (subjunctive expressing wish with utinam)

talis – nominative singular, “such a one”

amotus – perfect participle of amoveo, here as predicate (esset amotus, “were removed”)

haberemus – imperfect subjunctive active, “(that) we might have” (coupled with esset)

placeret – imperfect subjunctive active of placeo (coupled with other subjunctives)

omnibus – dative plural, “everyone”

Tandem dicunt: Quis opponit se contra episcopum? Quis accusabit eum?

tandem – “at last/finally”

dicunt – present indicative active of dico, “they say”

opponit – present indicative active of opponeo, here reflexive, “set oneself against”

accusabit – future indicative active of accuso, “will accuse”

Alii sibi timentes dicunt: Non ego, nec ego.

sibi – reflexive dative, “for themselves” (“fearing for themselves”)

timentes – present participle of timeo, “fearing” (agreeing with alii)

Et sic minores permittunt maiores vivere et praeesse.

minores – nominative plural, comparative of parvus, “the lesser ones (by rank)”

permittunt – present indicative active of permitto, “allow”

maiores – accusative plural, comparative of magnus, “the greater ones (by rank)”

vivere – present infinitive, “to live”

praeesse – present infinitive of praesum, “to be in charge, preside”

Popularly known as “Belling the Cat” or “Mice in the Council,” this fable has enjoyed huge popularity across centuries. In the 17th century, it became part of La Fontaine’s book of fables, experiencing a revival in the mid-19th with the magnificent illustrations by Gustave Doré. 

TEXT

LVI. De Mure et Catto. Contra non implentes uotum.

Mus semel cecidit in spumam uini uel ceruisie, quando buliuit. Catus transiens audiuit Murem pipantem eo quod exire non potuit. Et ait Catus : Quare clamas? Respondit : Quia exire non ualeo. Ait Catus: Quid dabis mihi, si te extraxero? Ait Mus: Quicquid postulaueris? Et ait Catus: Si te hac uice liberauero, uenies ad me cum te uocauero? Et ait Mus: Firmiter hoc promitto. Ait Catus: Iura mihi. Et Mus iurauit. Catus Murem extraxit et ire permisit. Semel Catus esuriuit et uenit ad foramen Muris, et dixit ei quod ad ipsum exiret. Dixit Mus: Non faciam. Ait Catus: Nonne iurasti mihi? Dixit: Frater, ebria fui, quando iuraui.

Sic pleriquc, quando infirmi uel in carcere uel in periculo, proponunt et promittunt uitam emendare, ieiunare uel huiusmodi. Sed cum pcriculum euaserunt, uotum implere non curant, dicentes: In periculo fui et ideo non teneor.

ANALYSIS

Contra non implentes votum.

implentes – present participle of impleo, fulfilling”

votum – accusative singular of votum, “vow, something solemnly promised”

Mus semel cecidit in spumam vini vel cervisiae, quando bullivit.

cecidit – perfect indicative active of cado, “fell”

spumam – accusative singular of spuma, “foam”

vini (…) cervisiae – genitives singular of vinus, cervisia, “of wine or beer”

quando – “when”

bullivit – perfect indicative active of bullio, “boiled/foamed” (brewing context)

Catus transiens audiuit Murem pipantem eo quod exire non potuit.

transiens – present participle of transeo, “passing by” (referring to Catus)

audiuit – perfect indicative active of audio, “heard”

pipantem – present participle of pipo, “peeping/squeaking” (referring to murem)

eo quod – causal conjunction, “because”

exire – present infinitive of exeo, “to get out”

potuit – perfect of possum, “was (not) able”

Et ait Catus: Quare clamas? Respondit: Quia exire non valeo.

quare – interrogative adverb, “why?”

clamas – 2nd sg. present of clamo, “are you shouting/crying?”

respondit – “(he) replied” (as above)

quia – causal conjunction, “because”

valeo – present indicative active of valeo, “I am (not) able/can (not)”

Ait Catus: Quid dabis mihi, si te extraxero? Ait Mus: Quicquid postulaveris?

quid – “what (thing)?”

dabis – future indicative active of do, “will you give”

mihi – dative, personal pronoun, “to me”

si – conditional conjunction, “if”

te – accusative, personal pronoun, “you”

extraxero – future perfect indicative active of extraho, “I (shall have) pulled out”

quicquid – “whatever/anything you (will) ask” (indefinite relative)

postulaveris – future perfect/subjunctive form of postulo; here idiomatic, “whatever you ask”

Et ait Catus: Si te hac vice liberavero, venies ad me cum te vocavero?

hac vice – ablative, “on this occasion / this time”

liberavero – future perfect indicative active of libero, “I (shall have) set free”

venies – future indicative active of venio, “will you come”

ad me – “to me”

cum – temporal conjunction, “when/whenever”

vocavero – future perfect indicative active of voco, “I (shall have) called”

Et ait Mus: Firmiter hoc promitto. Ait Catus: Iura mihi. Et Mus iuravit.

firmiter – adverb, “firmly”

hoc – accusative neuter, “this (thing)”

promitto – present indicative active of promitto, “I promise”

iura – imperative of iuro, “swear!”

iuravit – perfect indicative active of iuro, “swore”

Catus Murem extraxit et ire permisit.

extraxit – perfect of extraho, “pulled out”

ire – present infinitive of eo, “to go”

permisit – perfect indicative active of permitto, “allowed, let”

Semel Catus esuriuit et venit ad foramen Muris, et dixit ei quod ad ipsum exiret.

esuriuit – perfect of esurio, “was hungry”

venit – perfect/present indicative active of venio, “came”

foramen muris – accusative with ad, “to the mouse hole” (muris is possessive genitive)

exiret – imperfect subjunctive of exeo “(that) he should come out”, subjunctive as indirect order

Dixit Mus: Non faciam. Ait Catus: Nonne iurasti mihi? Dixit: Frater, ebria fui, quando iuravi.

non faciam – future indicative active (volitive) of facio: “I will not do (it)”

nonne – interrogative expecting a positive answer, “did you not…?”

iurasti – perfect indicative active of iuro, “you swore”

frater – vocative, “brother”

ebria fui – predicate adjective + perfect of sum, “I was drunk” (in feminine because mus is a feminine noun) 

quando – temporal conjunction, “when”

Sic plerique, quando infirmi vel in carcere vel in periculo, proponunt et promittunt vitam emendare, ieiunare vel huiusmodi.

plerique – “very many, most people” (nom. pl.)

infirmi – nominative plural of the adjective infirmus, “sick”

carcere – ablative with in of carcer, “prison, captivity”

periculo – ablative of periculum, “danger”

proponunt – present indicative active of propono, “they resolve”

promittunt – present indicative active of  promitto, “promise”

vitam – accusative singular of vita, “(their) life”

emendare – present infinitive, “to amend”

ieiunare – present infinitive, “to fast”

vel huiusmodi – “or the like”

Sed cum periculum evaserunt, votum implere non curant, dicentes: In periculo fui et ideo non teneor.

sed – conjunction, “but”

cum (…) evaserunt — temporal clause with cum + perfect indicative active of evasio/evado, “when they have escaped (once they escape) the danger”

non curant – present indicative active of curo, “do not care (to), neglect”

dicentes – present participle of dico, “saying:”

fui – perfect indicative active of sum, “I was”

et ideo – “and therefore”

non teneor – present indicative passive of teneo, idiomatically “I am not bound/obliged”

This was easy, wasn’t it?

What do you think, should the mouse have let the cat eat it just to prove its constancy? Or should it have started fasting to amend its life? Perhaps it should have persuaded the Cat to do so… 

Source: Les Fabulistes latins. Depuis le siècle d‘ Auguste jusqu’à la fin du moyen âge, ed. Léopold Hervieux. Paris: Firmin Didot, 1896, pp. 225-226 and 227-228.